The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-05-13
Oanses Of Crime.

A correspondent Of the Philadelphia
Ne,cs has been having an interview
with Warden Cassidy, of the eastern
peniteutiary, who has many years ex.
perience in that institution and whose
opinions ought to possess some value.
AS to the romance of crime the
wsrden's observation has led him to
the conviction that there is no such
thing as "honor among thieves" of
which so much has been said, is myth.
Criminals are almost always suspicious
Of each other aud with some reason,
or many of the most signal triumphs
Of justice have been made only through
the betrayal of his pals by some crimi-
nal.
Mr.. Cassidy believes that ninety per
cent. OF the crime which burdens the
world comes through heredity. "Chil-
dren are born with the taint of crime
10 their blood aud as prone to evil as
sparks to fly upward. All they need
is lack of proper care and training,
and opportunity TO associate with older
bad companions, and your criminal
comes as natural as the butterfly from
the crysalis. Like produces like, and
what can you expect from vicious
father and drunken mother but bad
child = There is much truth in this
and the supply of criminals will never
diminish until the State immures hard
ened criminals for life and undertakes
the care and training of neglected chill
dren.
OF the l,04O criminals in the eastern
penitentiary only fourteen were me-
chancs when admitted. "Men toho
learn trades in their youth said Mr..
Cassidy seldom become grave crimi-
nails. They may become drunk ,rds,
and, losing their habits of industry,
sots, and be guilty of petty misdemean
ors but they seldom commit serious
offenses, and when they do the crimes
are usually the result of quarrels or of
bad temper" This is only one more
link in the chain of evidence going to
prove that parents who would surely
provide for the future of their boys
must strive to give them that sort of
education that will qualify them to
make intelligent use of their hands.
Book knowledge is not enough. 1t is
also loud argument against the mod
ern spirit which has abolished the ap-
prentice system and rendered it very
difficult if not impossible for many boys
to become masters of trades. Does
not this fact also call forth the establish
ment by the State of industrial schools
where the children OF the poor and
even of criminals may be taught to
handle tools For there are thousands
of shiftless people who live from hand
to mouth or by crime all their days
and who will do nothing to assist their
children in the battle of life, and from
the ranks of these unfortunate ones
comes the majority of criminals.
The warden believes that liquor has
far less to do with the commission of
heinous crimes than is generally sup
posed. "a burglar" be says, "must
have keen eyes and ears and steady
nerves." "a bank sneak cannot be a
hard drlnker, neither can forger or
counterfeiter." Mr.. Cassidy may be
right and 1t is certainly true that many
of the most successful criminals are of
comparatively sober habits. Yet we
venture the opinion that nine-tenths of
all the inmates of our prisons are drink
ing men ard drink has no little to do
with their ruin. Curiously enough,
Mr.. Cassidy th;uks base ball one of the
most prolific sources of crime in the
country and he declares with emphasis
that ''base hall is a bad thing"
We don't know that there is any
thing particularly new or novel in
Warden Cassidy's views of crime and
its causes. In large measure they
are supplementary and con6rmatory of
the opirions of men and women who
have devoted much time and study to
the subject. 1t they teach any it Is the
old but thus far almost unheeded
truth that if the State would build in
dustrial schools for its neglected chill
dren it would have less need for pris-
ons.-Erchange.